Turmoil in Yet Another African Country

Africa just cannot catch a break!

If it's not genocide in certain countries (like Nigeria in the sixties, Rwanda in the nineties, or Sudan a few years ago), or savage village raids where women have their breasts cut off and young boys are taken forcibly to join some militant group, then it's more turmoil elsewhere!

Earlier this year, Central African Republic was going through some serious issues, and was on the verge of chaos. Kenya, a country that epitomized African stability for decades, has now seen some tough times in recent years. And in western Africa, in countries like Mali, there is new instability!

Add to that the outbreak of rare diseases, such as the recent Ebola outbreak.

Now, another African country has fallen under turmoil, and this one is in a region that, more or less since 1994, has proved relatively stable for this continent.

Yes, southern Africa has been a relative pillar of stability since the fall of apartheid (with the notable exception of Zimbabwe). South Africa itself was praised as a model for other countries, as the "Rainbow Nation" built itself up after the end of white minority government there. There was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that helped the nation come to grips with it's recent racial past, then there was an economic boom, while it also had one of the most revered figures in recent history serve as the President, and then serve as a wise figure after leaving office on his own terms. There were programs to try and build a better measure of equality within the country, as many impoverished homes were given electricity and running water for the first time. It has even hosted major sports tournaments, such as the World Cup in rugby in 1995, and the really big World Cup tournament in the world's favorite sport back in 2010.

A relative pillar of stability, indeed. Yes, it had it's problems, as nagging inequality persisted, and the AIDS epidemic began to receive the kind of negative worldwide attention for the country that apartheid once had, with South Africa being seen as the basketcase of the world in this regard, and with government that seemed unable to act or do anything to stem this tide, and being criticized harshly, both from within it's borders and outside of it's borders as a result.

But now, some turmoil has been seen in Lesotho, an independent country entirely surrounded by South Africa.

Here is the link to the article:


Lesotho Military Says It Has Disarmed Police by Carley Petesch, by AFP, August 30, 2014:

http://news.yahoo.com/resident-lesotho-military-occupies-police-station-075031674.html